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Lifting a houseboat - this is what happened when our houseboat was lifted

What is it like to lift a houseboat? We've done this once before, almost ten years ago, but now it was time again. We have to admit we were a bit nervous and excited. After all, it's a large thing to be lifted!

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Lifting a houseboat - why?

We have been living in our houseboat FREEDOM for over ten years. Relatively early we lifted it on land, and then we sanded and repainted the hull (as well as rebuilding and just the whole houseboat). Since then, the boat has remained where it is, in the waters of Pampas Marina in Solna, in Stockholm.

Since the boat is completely stationary, in fresh water, there is very little wear and tear. But you still have to lift sometimes, to check that everything is as it should be, and now the marina thought it was time. The houseboat had to go up for inspection!

Pampas marina

Preparing to lift a houseboat

To lift the houseboat, we needed to book three different contractors: 1) the plumber (who disconnects the boat from the water and sewage pipes), 2) the marina (who organises the lift) and the surveyor (who checks the hull).

All these people are busy and when we were forced to cancel the first lift, due to a fault with the boat lift, we felt nervous. But then we managed to book a new time. It was time!

We prepared by emptying the fridge and freezer (good thing you have a motorhome!) and by packing all the fragile things in moving boxes, and by taping all the cupboard doors. You never know how much the boat will move when it is lifted!

Peter also began to carefully loosen tamps and remove fenders.

Ta bort fendrar

Plumbing - disconnecting the houseboat

On D-day we had moved out of the houseboat (and into the motorhome), but we were still there at 7am. After a while, Kenta the plumber and his son, who knows the houseboats in the Pampas well, turned up.

They had to struggle for a while to find the right cables and pipes in the water, and to succeed in unscrewing threads that had been in the water for years, but finally ...!

Avloppsrör

Finally time - to lift a houseboat!

Then we waited for Pampas ... We waited and waited, and then we went to have a coffee in the motorhome. When we came back, Pampas had already disconnected the gangway and towed the boat to the boat lift ...

Att lyfta en husbåt

The Pampas boat lift can lift a maximum of 50 tonnes and our houseboat weighs 33 tonnes. This is thus among the larger lifts Pampas makes.

Att lyfta en husbåt

Of course, it is important that the boat is in the right position and that the weight is distributed in the desired way. The guys lifted and lowered a few times before doing the real lift. It went pretty quickly anyway!

The lift is smooth, and once the boat is lifted, it can be rolled away easily.

Att lyfta en husbåt

Rolling the houseboat on land

The boat lift has wheels, and immediately after the lift, the houseboat was rolled away to its temporary mooring.

Att lyfta en husbåt

It's really different to see it this way, when you also see what is usually hidden below the surface.

Att lyfta en husbåt - båtlyft

The boat lift was parked in a designated spot on land, and Pampa staff sprayed the hull clean with a pressure washer. It was then left to hang in the lift for a while before it was time to palletise it on supports.

What should we do now? Well, now it was time for the surveyor, and then we had the opportunity to paint and fix. We'll tell you more about this soon!

Best this week

The best thing this week? That we finally got the opportunity to lift our houseboat of course! Even though it is a lot of work, it feels very nice to get this done!

We are also pleased to invite you to vote for Destination Sweden of the Year 2024!

What has been the best part of your week?

Husbåten FREEDOM

The week ahead

What are our plans now? Well, we're hanging out in Stockholm for a little while longer. We will get everything ready around the houseboat, among other things, and meet some family and friends. Then we plan to roll towards Dalarna!

veteranbåtar
Two fine vintage boats moored in Pampas Marina

Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read the We are preparing to lift the houseboat ...

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